Advanced Pharmaceutical Manufacturing (APM) Cluster
Coalition Lead Applicant: Virginia Biotechnology Research Partnership Authority
Region (applicant-defined): Richmond/Petersburg, Virginia, region
Coalition Overarching Narrative (applicant submitted) (PDF)
Phase 2 Federal Award: Approximately $52.9 million
Project Description:
The Advanced Pharmaceutical Manufacturing (APM) Cluster, a coalition led by the Virginia Biotechnology Research Partnership Authority (Activation Capital), will receive approximately $52.9 million to expand the domestic supply chain for essential medicines and critical active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs). The coronavirus pandemic illustrated how vulnerable we can be to disruptions in a supply chain where currently more than 70 percent of API manufacturing facilities are outside the United States. EDA funding builds on a nascent APM corridor from Richmond, VA. to Petersburg, VA., investing in two new facilities to expand wet lab space, research and development capacity, and to allow the concentration of commercialization activity. The project will catalyze a new partnership between Virginia Commonwealth University, a research leader in the industry based in Richmond, and Virginia State University, an HBCU in Petersburg, to create new pathways for underserved residents to high-quality training and jobs in APM. Additional projects will strengthen the community college pipeline for trained technicians, develop the regional supply chain through engagement with local firms, and provide critical infrastructure upgrades to sustain current and future industrial capacity in Petersburg.